BOBCATS BY THE NUMBERS: 22 Days Until Kickoff, and a Look Back at a Great Safety
8/9/2019 8:16:00 AM | Football
Morgan Ryan picked off 22 passes as a Bobcat safety
August 9: In addition to a quick look at players wearing the jersey number corresponding to the number of days remaining until Montana State's season opener at Texas Tech on August 31, Bobcats by the Numbers brings you another tidbit or two aligning with that number.
#22
Isaiah Ifanse, RB: Saying Montana State running backs coach DeNarius McGhee likes Isaiah Ifanse's physical running style is an understatement. Saying the ability to attract Ifanse to the Bobcat program from Bellevue (Washington) High School in February, 2018, is was a big deal is a huge understatement. But saying Ifanse exceeded expectations as a freshman running back last fall blows both the previous statements out of the water. Ifanse became the first Washington Gatorade Player of the Year to sign with the Bobcats after plowing his way to over 2,500 yards at Bellvue, then proceeded to set the MSU freshman record with 1,025 yards. His 139 rushing yards against Incarnate Word was a Bobcat playoff record, and his 227 yards against Cal Poly was an MSU freshman record.
22 – Number of interceptions for MSU's career leader Morgan Ryan
Morgan Ryan's consistency was almost mind-numbing. He intercepted three passes as a redshirt freshman safety in 1990, eight in '91, six in '92, and five in '93. For good measure he broke up 18 passes in his career to go along with his school record 22 picks. He was an important and underrated part of the process of turning Montana State into a Big Sky title contender in 1993, Cliff Hysell's second season coaching the Cats.
Chronology: Paul Torrance (1926), Joe Hazen (1931), Louis Edwards (1934), Frank Krevic (1937), William Forsythe (1941), Barney Berger (1946), Lynn Day (1947), Benny Auck (1948), Jerry Ragland (1950), Duane Aase (1953), Neal Christensen (1954-55), Dick Posewitz (1956), Dave Crocker (1957), Sam Moore (1958-60), Will Fennall (1961), Ron Bain (1966-67), Paul Schafer (1968, '70), Kerry Leatham (1969), Dud Lutton (1971), Steve Kracher (1972-75), Jeff Losett (1976-77), Joe Robinson (1978), Si Timberman (1979-82), Steve King (1983-84), Bob Burney (1985-86), Mike Pouliot (1987-91), Dawson Williams (1992-94), Josh Perkins (1995), Ryan Budde (1996), Jonathan Hoffman (1997-98), Zach Willis (1999), Brad Johnson (2000), Kahiam Hunter (2002-05), Michael Rider (2006-010), Eryon Barnett (2012-14), Marcus Tappan (2015), John Walker (2016), Noah James (2017), Isaiah Ifanse (2018-)
Other #22 Notes: If you want to get the hard-working staff at BBTN excited about football on a random Tuesday in June or something, bring up the name of Michael Rider. He came to Montana State as a walk-on defensive back, and no less an expert on Bobcat brilliance than Kane Ioane called his shot with Rider before he even arrived at MSU. "The kid I really like is the safety from (Billings) West, Michael Rider. He has a chance." When Rider got his chance, he took every advantage. His bloodlines didn't hurt – his father Craig played at Texas, coached football for many years, and if you ever had the good fortune to stand near him at a Bobcat game you'd know that he seemed to have a sixth sense for what was about to unfold in front of him – and neither did his work ethic and relentlessly positive nature. Rider redshirted in 2006, was outstanding on kick teams for two seasons, and started as a junior and senior. A team captain in 2010, he was third on the team in tackles (66) and tied for the team-high with two fumble recoveries. Rider posted what could be considered MSU's signature defensive plays in two straight seasons. In 2009, against nationally-ranked Weber State, with seconds left in the game, Rider stopped star running back Trevyn Smith on third-and-goal from the MSU 4 for a loss of three yards. On the next play, fourth-and-goal, Rider tipped over Bo Bolen with 20 seconds left to give MSU its biggest win of the Rob Ash era to that point. The next year, Rider closed his wonderful career (the regular season phase) with a bang by intercepting a Grizzly pass at the goal line on the last play of the 2010 Cat-Griz game to clinch for MSU a Big Sky Championship. Michael Rider coached for the Cats after his playing days, and is now married to former MSU track star Danielle Muri and is in private business in Billings. He remains one of the truly fine people, tremendous players, and loyal Bobcats that MSU football has produced.
#22
Isaiah Ifanse, RB: Saying Montana State running backs coach DeNarius McGhee likes Isaiah Ifanse's physical running style is an understatement. Saying the ability to attract Ifanse to the Bobcat program from Bellevue (Washington) High School in February, 2018, is was a big deal is a huge understatement. But saying Ifanse exceeded expectations as a freshman running back last fall blows both the previous statements out of the water. Ifanse became the first Washington Gatorade Player of the Year to sign with the Bobcats after plowing his way to over 2,500 yards at Bellvue, then proceeded to set the MSU freshman record with 1,025 yards. His 139 rushing yards against Incarnate Word was a Bobcat playoff record, and his 227 yards against Cal Poly was an MSU freshman record.
22 – Number of interceptions for MSU's career leader Morgan Ryan
Morgan Ryan's consistency was almost mind-numbing. He intercepted three passes as a redshirt freshman safety in 1990, eight in '91, six in '92, and five in '93. For good measure he broke up 18 passes in his career to go along with his school record 22 picks. He was an important and underrated part of the process of turning Montana State into a Big Sky title contender in 1993, Cliff Hysell's second season coaching the Cats.
Chronology: Paul Torrance (1926), Joe Hazen (1931), Louis Edwards (1934), Frank Krevic (1937), William Forsythe (1941), Barney Berger (1946), Lynn Day (1947), Benny Auck (1948), Jerry Ragland (1950), Duane Aase (1953), Neal Christensen (1954-55), Dick Posewitz (1956), Dave Crocker (1957), Sam Moore (1958-60), Will Fennall (1961), Ron Bain (1966-67), Paul Schafer (1968, '70), Kerry Leatham (1969), Dud Lutton (1971), Steve Kracher (1972-75), Jeff Losett (1976-77), Joe Robinson (1978), Si Timberman (1979-82), Steve King (1983-84), Bob Burney (1985-86), Mike Pouliot (1987-91), Dawson Williams (1992-94), Josh Perkins (1995), Ryan Budde (1996), Jonathan Hoffman (1997-98), Zach Willis (1999), Brad Johnson (2000), Kahiam Hunter (2002-05), Michael Rider (2006-010), Eryon Barnett (2012-14), Marcus Tappan (2015), John Walker (2016), Noah James (2017), Isaiah Ifanse (2018-)
Other #22 Notes: If you want to get the hard-working staff at BBTN excited about football on a random Tuesday in June or something, bring up the name of Michael Rider. He came to Montana State as a walk-on defensive back, and no less an expert on Bobcat brilliance than Kane Ioane called his shot with Rider before he even arrived at MSU. "The kid I really like is the safety from (Billings) West, Michael Rider. He has a chance." When Rider got his chance, he took every advantage. His bloodlines didn't hurt – his father Craig played at Texas, coached football for many years, and if you ever had the good fortune to stand near him at a Bobcat game you'd know that he seemed to have a sixth sense for what was about to unfold in front of him – and neither did his work ethic and relentlessly positive nature. Rider redshirted in 2006, was outstanding on kick teams for two seasons, and started as a junior and senior. A team captain in 2010, he was third on the team in tackles (66) and tied for the team-high with two fumble recoveries. Rider posted what could be considered MSU's signature defensive plays in two straight seasons. In 2009, against nationally-ranked Weber State, with seconds left in the game, Rider stopped star running back Trevyn Smith on third-and-goal from the MSU 4 for a loss of three yards. On the next play, fourth-and-goal, Rider tipped over Bo Bolen with 20 seconds left to give MSU its biggest win of the Rob Ash era to that point. The next year, Rider closed his wonderful career (the regular season phase) with a bang by intercepting a Grizzly pass at the goal line on the last play of the 2010 Cat-Griz game to clinch for MSU a Big Sky Championship. Michael Rider coached for the Cats after his playing days, and is now married to former MSU track star Danielle Muri and is in private business in Billings. He remains one of the truly fine people, tremendous players, and loyal Bobcats that MSU football has produced.
Players Mentioned
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